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The second “person of interest” sought in the rampage shooting that left six people dead and several — including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — injured yesterday in Tucson has been located and cleared by federal authorities.
And as promised by FBI Director Robert Mueller, in Arizona from Washington, a federal complaint has been filed against the lone suspect in the case, 22-year-old Jared Loughner.
The second “person of interest” in the case was identified as a cab driver who Loughner paid to drive him to the Safeway on the morning of the shooting. The two appeared together in the store’s surveillance footage because, the driver told authorities, Loughner needed to make change to pay the fare. Authorities say they’re satisfied with his explanation.
The federal complaint, filed this afternoon by Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, includes two counts of murder of a federal official for the murders of Federal Judge John Roll and Giffords’ staffer Gabriel Zimmerman. In addition, the complaint includes three counts of attempted murder of a federal official for the assaults on Giffords and others.
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Under the law, an indictment must be handed down within 30 days of the filing of the complaint.
More information is known about the efforts of several heroic bystanders who prevented Loughner from carrying out further mayhem.
The woman who wrestled an ammo clip away from Loughner in the midst of the chaos has been identified as Patricia Maisch.
Maisch, authorities say, was waiting in line to take a picture with Giffords when Loughner opened fire. After unloading his first magazine into the crowd, Maisch grabbed the bottom of a fresh clip Loughner was trying to insert into his Glock 9-millimeter handgun.
As Maisch and Loughner fought over the clip, two men, Roger Salzgeber and Bill Badger, tackled and restrained the suspect until police arrived.
Authorities say the pause in shooting caused by Maisch grabbing the fresh clip is what allowed the two men to take Loughner to the ground.
Initial reports that Maisch was shot before her valiant effort were false, authorities say. She went unharmed in the shooting.
Check back to Valley Fever for updates.
